The Representation Gap in Thought Leadership Sucks: It's Time for a Change
Season 2 Episode 02
We're back with a bang! Season 2 kicks off with a fresh look, sound, and mission as Gaby Acosta welcomes new co-host Elizabeth Solomon. Together, they're tackling a critical issue: the glaring representation gap in thought leadership. In this eye-opening episode, Gaby and Liz break down the systemic barriers facing underrepresented voices in academia, media, and beyond, setting the stage for a season dedicated to "Amplifying & Cultivating Diverse Thought Leaders."
Get ready for weekly deep dives into the journeys of trailblazing thought leaders, packed with practical tips to transform your expertise into career-advancing content. Whether you're an aspiring influencer or simply hungry for diverse perspectives, this season promises to challenge, inspire, and equip you with the tools to make your voice heard. Tune in and join the movement to reshape the landscape of ideas!
Amplifying & Cultivating Diverse Thought Leaders
You've worked your butt off, earned your degree (maybe even multiple degrees), and you're ready to shake up the world with your big ideas.
But here's the frustrating truth – despite women earning the majority of degrees, they're still seriously underrepresented on institutional governing boards and in tenured positions.
What does this mean? The narrative coming out of academia, the research we all rely on, is largely controlled by a predominantly white male elite.
And it's not just academia. This imbalance is playing out across newsrooms, media companies, major conferences, and pretty much anywhere ideas are shared and amplified.
It's like there's an invisible bouncer at the door of thought leadership, and let's call it what it is – these platforms are being sexist, racist, classist, and a whole list of other -ists.
This systemic bias is keeping out voices and ideas that could revolutionize the way we think and solve problems.
But here's the good news:
The Way We Lead podcast is back for Season 2, and Elizabeth Solomon and I are on a mission to tear down these barriers. We’re shining a spotlight on underrepresented voices across diverse fields and sharing practical tips on how to establish your own thought leadership strategy.
Trust us, you're going to want to tune in.
The Shocking Stats
Before we dive in, let's break down some eye-opening facts:
Two-thirds of the books The New York Times reviews are by men.
An analysis of Op-eds in major U.S. papers we’re found to be a "male kingdom" (not our words, btw).
Global Affairs op-eds? Only 15% are written by women.
Private sector speaking events? 69% of speakers are men.
Yikes.
The reality is that there’s a huge gender imbalance. And when it comes to racial diversity? The gap is even wider. Newsrooms and media leadership remain overwhelmingly white, with people of color significantly underrepresented.
Why This Matters
When we limit who gets to share ideas, we're missing out on some seriously brilliant solutions to the world's biggest problems. It's like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing – it just doesn't work.
“If we aren’t in the spaces that control these publications, we aren’t being featured in these publications."
-Gaby Acosta
This is a systemic issue that needs to change, like, yesterday.
This is Personal
What makes this season of The Way We Lead so powerful is how personal it is for both of us.
As a queer Latina and Salvadoran immigrant, I know firsthand what it's like to be excluded from the public narrative.
And Liz, a queer woman raising four kids from various racial backgrounds, is deeply invested in creating a more inclusive future.
We're not just talking the talk – we’re committed to walking the walk by amplifying voices that have been historically sidelined.
What You Can Expect This Season
Get ready for some real talk from underrepresented thought leaders who are shaking things up in fields like:
Access to legal services
Accessibility in Advertising
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
Experiential learning
Spiritual leadership
But it's not just about what these leaders are doing – it's about how they're doing it.
The podcast dives into the nitty-gritty of amplifying your voice, overcoming barriers, and leveraging your unique perspective.
Why It's Time for Change
Look, the world is diverse, complex, and ever-changing.
We need thought leaders who reflect that reality. When we limit our pool of ideas to one or two dominant identities, we're missing out on innovations, perspectives, and solutions that could change the game for the better for everyone.
As Liz points out in the episode, people outside the mainstream often have unique insights into systemic issues precisely because of their experiences.
They're the seers, the innovators, the ones who can look at old problems with fresh eyes.
What You Can Do
Ready to be part of the change? Here are a few ways to start:
Subscribe and listen to The Way We Lead podcast and share it with your friends.
Seek out and amplify diverse voices in your own circles.
Question whose ideas you're consuming and make an effort to diversify your sources.
If you have a platform, use it to lift up underrepresented voices.
Remember, as Gaby and Liz say, "It is together that we can change the narrative one, two, three voices at a time."
So let's get to work, shall we?
Tune in to The Way We Lead for a season that promises to challenge, inspire, and redefine what it means to be a thought leader in today's world.
It's time to shake things up, and this podcast is leading the way.
